Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thanksgiving Dinner

 Thanksgiving Dinner

This year, I inherited Alan's Grandparents Cherry Wood Dinning Table. I already received the Hutch & Buffet when we were first Married. I am sooooo excited for the final piece to the set!!!! It's gorgeous with 2 Inserts to fit 12. We will probably update the chairs over time. But for now I am absolutely thrilled. 

For the Holiday's I bring out our Best China & Silver & go all out. As Alan calls it "Tiffany Style". Every year Alan lets me get something new for the Table. (These photos didn't have silverware or place cards out yet.) This year we had Alan's Family, a total of 10. I have Music playing softly, for my Thanksgiving Mix.


Food Table
It doesn't show in the Photo... but I made a Menu & framed it on the Food Table. I love Cooking & Baking. This years food selections had a European Influence.
Fruit Turkey for the Kids! It was a total Hit.
I Love Hosting, & making these Beautiful. Now off to Bed... Alan & I are going Shopping in the Morning. :)

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

FALL

FALL

This is the way Fall should be! Here the week of Thanksgiving!!! We still get to enjoy all of the gorgeous colors in Northern California.
My In-laws Orchards

This year we are hosting Thanksgiving. I am currently working on My Centerpieces for our Thanksgiving Table. It has proven to be a little more challenging than first anticipated. Poor Alan has probably heard me complain about how much I miss Utah Stores. hahaha. Seriously what's a girl to do without Rod Works or Tai Pan?! (Rod Works is in Sacramento aka 2 hours, & Tai Pan in my hometown Rancho Cucamonga aka 6 hours) Stay Tuned for the final Results! ;)

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Mr. Brenton

 Mr. Brenton

When did he get so old?? Doesn't he look like a Boy now?? Seriously this kid is growing so fast, before I know it, he will be passing me up on height. Brenton will probably be at least 6 feet tall, somewhere around his Dad's height. I cannot believe how much he eats, sometimes he out eats me! I don't even know where it all goes. He is just solid muscle. He likes to stretch and often tells me he needs to do some exercises. He goes thru a new pair of Jeans monthly. He is currently a size 6, but I am certain by the end of school he will be in a 7. Brenton is taller than some of the kids in the 3rd grade!! (Although he does have a advantage being one of the few white kids) 
His Best Buddies at School are Elian, Emmilio, & Jacob. He tells me a lot of the kids in his class can speak Spanish & English. In the beginning of the year, Brenton apparently informed them he was Mexican too. (only 25%) So what do you think would happen?? They started speaking Spanish to him. And Brenton told them "What the heck are you saying?! I have no idea what your saying?! I can't understand you. Stop talking CRAZY!!". Alan & I laughed so hard when he told us the story. 

Brenton's School starts at 7:50am and gets out 3:30pm M, T, TH. On Wend its a half day and Friday is 2pm. All 3 dogs go in the car to pick him up. He takes turns holding different dogs to and from School.

It has been quite the adjustment getting use to School all day. All he wants to do when he gets home is Play. And even at the end of the day, he cries and tells us how he didn't have enough time to Play.

However, unfortunately he has a Homework Packet he has to work on every night. So we usually will work on it right after School, or while I'm making Dinner. I really ride him hard on good penmanship. Its something my mother stressed on me, and I really want my Children to do so as well. Sometimes we erase it until it is up to my standards. I know it sounds silly & hard on a 5 year old. But if hes going to learn, he needs to learn to do it properly. During Our 1st Parent/Teacher Conference, Brenton's teachers informed us he has one of the best penmanship in his class. When I told him what his Teachers said, he was beaming! What once was a struggle is now something he is striving for.

Brenton had to make a TURKEY for his class. 
He came up with the design & did the tracing & gluing. Mommy did all the cutting. I think it turned out darling. And he was so excited to show everyone the Boggle Eyes.

One thing we have been working on is learning Site Words. Brenton is expected to know 50 words by site and how to spell them. I came up with this game to help encourage Brent on learning. 
Everyday we start with a blank slate. If it's mastered he gets to put a Car on it. So far, so good!!
 
 Brenton is still really into the Weather. He is still very concerned about Tornado's. And often I find him looking out the Playroom windows. On this particular day he watched a Thunderstorm move in. He sat there for over a hour, totally captivated. Sometimes he tells me he wants to be a Weatherman. Brenton also likes to watch the Weather Channel daily after school. He's been asking me for weather books, & enjoys weather movies on Netflix.
  
I can't believe how fast time is going. We still miss him during the day. He is so smart, funny, & passionate. I have already seen so much growth in him since our move here. He still says his sister is his Best Friend. And is a Amazing Big Brother. He often "teaches" her new things he learns in School. 
We love Brenton so much & love the person he is becoming.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Life Lately...

Life Lately...

This is My Favorite Shopping Buddy. :)
(Yes we are still wearing Shots... because its 85 here)

Ricco has been getting into Mischief. 
(IE running around wearing Savannah's Underwear. haha.)

He also sleeps a lot... being a baby and all. 

Snack Time after School...

It's not unusual to see this at Family Dinners... 
IPhone Family here. ;)

Favorite Family Snack... whenever we buy Sugar Snap Pea's, they last maybe a few days.

One of mine & the kids Favorite pass times at Grandpa & Grandma's is looking at Dad's Childhood Photos.
Alan's 1st Motorcycle!!! He has a bomber jacket on... ironically Brent also has one.

Grandma surprised us with a New Book from her School Book Fair. 

Her favorite new show is Princess Sophia the first.

Benson is still my shadow...

And lastly.... I have purchased over a dozen pairs of Cowboy Boots since Moving here. 
But seriously aren't these Amazing?! I got 2 pairs of this style. Tan & Coral.
(which I'm redoing into Deep Red. ;))

Sunday, November 04, 2012

Exploring

Exploring
 
Alan had to fly to NC for a Business Trip. So we dropped him off at the San Francisco Airport & did a little exploring on the Coast. We checked out Pigeon Point Lighthouse, & explored some beaches for seashells. This is why we moved to California. 80 Degrees in November!!! Heaven!! All down the Coast was covered with Surfers taking advantage of the gorgeous weather. :)
Watching the Waves from the Jeep's Sunroof.
Uncle Conor & Aunty Mallory
Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Can you see the Harbor Seal?